Covid-19 Useful Links

To support you during this time, we have put together a list of services that you and your family may require:

Emergency

• Police: 101 or Emergency 999
• NHS Direct: 111
• Child Line: 0800 1111
• Children’s Services: 0300 123 4043

Mental Health

• Samaritans: 116 123 - https://www.samaritans.org/  
• World Health Organisation - https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/helping-children-cope-with-stress-print.pdf?sfvrsn=f3a063ff_2
• World Health Organisation - https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/coping-with-stress.pdf?sfvrsn=9845bc3a_2
• http://dsplarea9.org.uk/mental-health-emotional-wellbeing/
• https://www.justtalkherts.org/news/looking-after-your-mental-health-during-coronavirus.aspx#JustTalk%20Herts

Food Bank  https://borehamwood.foodbank.org.uk/

Benefits

• Jobcentre Plus: 0800 055 6688
• https://www.gov.uk/how-to-claim-universal-credit

Domestic Abuse

• Refuge: 0808 200 0247 – www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk
• https://www.hertssunflower.org/herts-sunflower.aspx
• Women’s Aid: 0808 800 0028 - https://bswaid.org/ - text service: 08001 08088000028
• Men’s Advice Line: 0808 801 0327 - www.mensadviceline.org.uk

Debt advice and financial support

• Money Advice Service: 0800 138 7777  - https://www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/en
• Citizens Advice Bureau - https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/
• https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/debt-and-money/if-you-cant-pay-your-bills-because-of-coronavirus/

• https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-agrees-measures-with-energy-industry-to-support-vulnerable-people-through-covid-19
• https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-covid-19-and-your-energy-supply

Bereavement

• Cruse Bereavement Care - Hertfordshire Area: 01707 278 389 - http://www.cruse.org.uk/
• Hope again – young people living after loss: 0808 808 1677 - https://www.hopeagain.org.uk/

Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)

• Delivering Special Provision Locally - http://dsplarea9.org.uk/ - Local partnership focused on meeting the needs of young people with SEND. Many useful links for all children not just those with SEND.
• Integrated Services for Learning: 01992 588574 - 2:00-4:30pm speak directly to an Educational Psychologist to discuss your child’s development, learning or emotional wellbeing.
• Social stories and comic strip cartoons - https://www.autism.org.uk/about/strategies/social-stories-comic-strips.aspx
• Contact (national charity for families of children with disabilities) - https://www.contact.org.uk/

Communication and autism needs

• Communication and autism Specialist Advisory Teachers:  01442 453920 - daily between 10am and 2pm (term time) to provide advice and guidance for parents and carers. They are unable to provide advice in relation to the coronavirus or the duration of school closures.
• Coronavirus Social Stories:
• https://theautismeducator.ie/2020/03/11/corona-virus-social-story/  
• https://www.sccoe.org/news/featured/Documents/Coronavirus%20Social%20Story%20-%20Cheri%20Palladino.pdf
• https://paautism.org/resource/coronavirus-social-story/

E-Safety

• https://www.childnet.com/parents-and-carers/parent-and-carer-toolkit
• https://www.childnet.com/resources/supporting-young-people-online
• https://learning.nspcc.org.uk/research-resources/schools/e-safety-for-schools/
• https://www.getsafeonline.org/
• https://www.esafety-adviser.com/latest-newsletter/

Asthma

Asthma UK published the following shielding advice yesterday - “If you are, or your child is, taking:

• Any biologic therapy, also called a mAb (Xolair/omalizumab, Nucala/mepolizumab, Cinqaero/reslizumab, Fasenra/benralizumab)
• Steroid tablets or liquid every day
• Antibiotic tablets or liquid for asthma every week (e.g. azithromycin)
• Tiotropium
• A combination inhaler that also contains a long-acting bronchodilator (e.g. Seretide, Fostair, Symbicort) at a high daily steroid dose (see the list…..in the article)
• An inhaler with a high daily steroid dose (see the list….in the article) AND you are taking Montelukast
• Or, if:
• You have been admitted to hospital for your asthma in the last 12 months
• You have ever been admitted to an intensive care unit for your asthma

Then you should follow the shielding advice which is set out in very helpful detail, including how to register for extra services from the government.